Sunday 20 September 2009

Discovering The Past - Part 2 - The 1950s

So, here we are in the 1950s. My grandparents, Gem and Geraldine met at a party. It was a chance encounter. They fell in love.



Gem was nearing the end of his law degree but he left, leaving it uncompleted, because Geraldine fell pregnant and he needed to get a job. I don't know how their parents felt about these events. But I'd reckon that they were considered pretty unconventional. I think they were very much in love. I felt sad about this when I was thinking about it over the last few days, I wondered if he was disappointed or if he ever looked back with regret, but if he had finished his degree, who knows what might've happened? Seemingly small events cast big ripples, don't they?

Beach belle.



Gem looks so handsome here in his tennis whites.



This is a darling shot, I particularly love the shape of Geraldine's outfit. Just look at that nipped in waist!





Then, they had my uncle Ranjit. They moved back to Sri Lanka for a time, where they had two more children in quick succession (my mum and aunt) before returning (by boat! with three small children!) to this country to make their lives here.





This one is my favourite! Geraldine was so so beautiful.



I'll post a few more family pics later. And I have lots of vintage goodness to show you and tales of the last few days when we have been engaged in old-fashioned pursuits such as taking a swan boat round a lake, going on a steam train and other wonderful bucolic time-wasting activities.

7 comments:

Laura said...

I love this and I am so intrigued by them. It must have been hard for them. And yes Geraldine is very beautiful.

Fine Little Day said...

Everyone always look so beautiful in old photos, no exceptions here. I like.

nath said...

Laura - yes, it must've been tough. not the easiest start perhaps. but Gem worked all sorts of jobs, he was an orderly in a hospital, he worked in a chocolate factory, then for the Ceylon Tea Centre in London and Exeter, later becoming a civil servant. Geraldine took in sewing to fit in around three small children. i want to know more, it was good to talk to my mum about them both this weekend.

Kaylovesvintage said...

wonderful photos,they are so pretty

Jessica said...

What a lovely post. And what exquisite clothes... I dreamt about my own grandmother last night so it felt very poignant reading about yours today.

Unknown said...

this is a worthy project to embark on. Geraldine's a beauty.

une petite said...

everyone is soo beautiful ! thanks for sharing, i do love olds family pics...